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the fire problem with the cruise control cut off switch next to the brake master cylinder



 
 
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  #1  
Old June 24th 05, 08:02 PM
Weldon Wallick
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Posts: n/a
Default the fire problem with the cruise control cut off switch next to the brake master cylinder

This problem was in a local paper where F 150's have caught fire from
faulty cruise control cut off switches. They said the same switches
are in some Explorers such as my 2002.

The switch is 20 or so dollars.

My question: can I easily change the switch?

Concerns: that brake fluid might run out or air might get into the
brake system.


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  #2  
Old June 25th 05, 01:09 AM
Simon H
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"Weldon Wallick" > wrote in message
...
> This problem was in a local paper where F 150's have caught fire from
> faulty cruise control cut off switches. They said the same switches
> are in some Explorers such as my 2002.
>
> The switch is 20 or so dollars.
>
> My question: can I easily change the switch?
>
> Concerns: that brake fluid might run out or air might get into the
> brake system.
>


How would you know that the new switch is less likely to spontaneously
combust than the existing switch? It's taken them a good few years to figure
out that there just might be the slightest possibility that an
infinitessimally small fraction of all the switches ever fitted might
possibly, just possibly if there's a 'R' in the month, there's a full moon
and the wind is in the right direction, cause a fire. How good was the
quality control in the factory that made the new switches?
You need to weigh up those odds against the very real possibility of losing
fluid, getting air or dirt in the lines by doing a DIY panic job and then
having the previously good brakes fail on you just when you need 'em to
avoid that big rig that just ran a red light...
If it ain't broke, don't fix it....

Simon H


  #3  
Old June 25th 05, 04:19 AM
Jim Warman
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Posts: n/a
Default

Why not wait a bit to see if the scope of the recall is expanded. If you are
concerned, disconnect the switch and see if there is any brake fluid
intrusion. AFAIK, the concern arises when brake fluid enters the switch
cavity and creates problems.

FWIW, the recall is "two stage",,, one for with fluid contamination and one
for without fluid contamination. None of the ones that I have serviced have
had fluid contamination.


"Simon H" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Weldon Wallick" > wrote in message
> ...
> > This problem was in a local paper where F 150's have caught fire from
> > faulty cruise control cut off switches. They said the same switches
> > are in some Explorers such as my 2002.
> >
> > The switch is 20 or so dollars.
> >
> > My question: can I easily change the switch?
> >
> > Concerns: that brake fluid might run out or air might get into the
> > brake system.
> >

>
> How would you know that the new switch is less likely to spontaneously
> combust than the existing switch? It's taken them a good few years to

figure
> out that there just might be the slightest possibility that an
> infinitessimally small fraction of all the switches ever fitted might
> possibly, just possibly if there's a 'R' in the month, there's a full moon
> and the wind is in the right direction, cause a fire. How good was the
> quality control in the factory that made the new switches?
> You need to weigh up those odds against the very real possibility of

losing
> fluid, getting air or dirt in the lines by doing a DIY panic job and then
> having the previously good brakes fail on you just when you need 'em to
> avoid that big rig that just ran a red light...
> If it ain't broke, don't fix it....
>
> Simon H
>
>



  #4  
Old June 25th 05, 04:54 AM
Ashton Crusher
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

On Sat, 25 Jun 2005 03:19:43 GMT, "Jim Warman"
> wrote:

>Why not wait a bit to see if the scope of the recall is expanded. If you are
>concerned, disconnect the switch and see if there is any brake fluid
>intrusion. AFAIK, the concern arises when brake fluid enters the switch
>cavity and creates problems.
>
>FWIW, the recall is "two stage",,, one for with fluid contamination and one
>for without fluid contamination. None of the ones that I have serviced have
>had fluid contamination.
>


Do you know if any 2005 crown vic PIs were in the recall? I sent mine
to the shop for an oil change and when I called to see if it was ready
they said it was at the dealer for "warranty service".
  #5  
Old June 25th 05, 05:37 AM
Jim Warman
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

I would be real worried about one shop sending my car to a different shop..
especially if all that the first shop had for a mandate was an oil change.
If the lube shop was tied into the dealer, I would expect a "heads up" call
and a request for either permission or a reschedule.

AFAIK, the suspect vehicles are in the 00 - 02 ish range. Your dealer can
run OASIS to see if your car is affected by any recalls.


"Ashton Crusher" > wrote in message
...
> On Sat, 25 Jun 2005 03:19:43 GMT, "Jim Warman"
> > wrote:
>
> >Why not wait a bit to see if the scope of the recall is expanded. If you

are
> >concerned, disconnect the switch and see if there is any brake fluid
> >intrusion. AFAIK, the concern arises when brake fluid enters the switch
> >cavity and creates problems.
> >
> >FWIW, the recall is "two stage",,, one for with fluid contamination and

one
> >for without fluid contamination. None of the ones that I have serviced

have
> >had fluid contamination.
> >

>
> Do you know if any 2005 crown vic PIs were in the recall? I sent mine
> to the shop for an oil change and when I called to see if it was ready
> they said it was at the dealer for "warranty service".



  #6  
Old June 25th 05, 04:30 PM
Weldon Wallick
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

On Fri, 24 Jun 2005 20:54:00 -0700, Ashton Crusher >
wrote:

>On Sat, 25 Jun 2005 03:19:43 GMT, "Jim Warman"
> wrote:
>
>>Why not wait a bit to see if the scope of the recall is expanded. If you are
>>concerned, disconnect the switch and see if there is any brake fluid
>>intrusion. AFAIK, the concern arises when brake fluid enters the switch
>>cavity and creates problems.
>>
>>FWIW, the recall is "two stage",,, one for with fluid contamination and one
>>for without fluid contamination. None of the ones that I have serviced have
>>had fluid contamination.
>>

>
>Do you know if any 2005 crown vic PIs were in the recall? I sent mine
>to the shop for an oil change and when I called to see if it was ready
>they said it was at the dealer for "warranty service".


Ford says they stopped using the "suspect" switch in 2004.


  #7  
Old June 25th 05, 04:40 PM
Weldon Wallick
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

On Sat, 25 Jun 2005 00:09:57 +0000 (UTC), "Simon H"
> wrote:

>
>"Weldon Wallick" > wrote in message
.. .
>> This problem was in a local paper where F 150's have caught fire from
>> faulty cruise control cut off switches. They said the same switches
>> are in some Explorers such as my 2002.
>>
>> The switch is 20 or so dollars.
>>
>> My question: can I easily change the switch?
>>
>> Concerns: that brake fluid might run out or air might get into the
>> brake system.
>>

>
>How would you know that the new switch is less likely to spontaneously
>combust than the existing switch? It's taken them a good few years to figure
>out that there just might be the slightest possibility that an
>infinitessimally small fraction of all the switches ever fitted might
>possibly, just possibly if there's a 'R' in the month, there's a full moon
>and the wind is in the right direction, cause a fire. How good was the
>quality control in the factory that made the new switches?
>You need to weigh up those odds against the very real possibility of losing
>fluid, getting air or dirt in the lines by doing a DIY panic job and then
>having the previously good brakes fail on you just when you need 'em to
>avoid that big rig that just ran a red light...
>If it ain't broke, don't fix it....
>
>Simon H
>


This was from an article in the Tampa Tribune last Wednesday.

It claimed something like 550 fires and one fatality from a house fire
caused by the switch.

One Tampa resident parked their 150 in their drive. Twelve hours later
the 150 burst into flames. It was destroyed and scorched their minivan
and house.

They have started a class action law suit.

The people with the dead relative have done likewise.

I live in a four unit condo made of wood, etc. I keep my Explorer in
the garage. I don't want to be the source of some kind of disaster.

WLW

  #8  
Old June 25th 05, 05:24 PM
Ashton Crusher
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

On Sat, 25 Jun 2005 04:37:46 GMT, "Jim Warman"
> wrote:

>I would be real worried about one shop sending my car to a different shop..
>especially if all that the first shop had for a mandate was an oil change.
>If the lube shop was tied into the dealer, I would expect a "heads up" call
>and a request for either permission or a reschedule.
>


It's our state gvt shop. They originally do the purchasing and all
the routine maintenance and arrange any major maintenance they
determine is needed. Like any large bureaucracy it's hard to find out
what they are doing so when the guy on the phone says "we sent it to
the dealer..." and you ask why you get a "I don't know, it doesn't say
why in the note." Trying to find the guy who knows is usually more
trouble then it's worth.


>AFAIK, the suspect vehicles are in the 00 - 02 ish range. Your dealer can
>run OASIS to see if your car is affected by any recalls.
>
>
>"Ashton Crusher" > wrote in message
.. .
>> On Sat, 25 Jun 2005 03:19:43 GMT, "Jim Warman"
>> > wrote:
>>
>> >Why not wait a bit to see if the scope of the recall is expanded. If you

>are
>> >concerned, disconnect the switch and see if there is any brake fluid
>> >intrusion. AFAIK, the concern arises when brake fluid enters the switch
>> >cavity and creates problems.
>> >
>> >FWIW, the recall is "two stage",,, one for with fluid contamination and

>one
>> >for without fluid contamination. None of the ones that I have serviced

>have
>> >had fluid contamination.
>> >

>>
>> Do you know if any 2005 crown vic PIs were in the recall? I sent mine
>> to the shop for an oil change and when I called to see if it was ready
>> they said it was at the dealer for "warranty service".

>


 




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